seryus



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. F. SERVUS. PICTURE FRAME SUPPORT.

-Pafwnted Apr. 8, 1888.

w. PEIERS. Pholo-Lhhughphar, wmm mn, D c.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

F. SERVUS.

PICTURE FRAME SUPPORT. No. 380,671. Patented Apr. 3, 1888.

Wz'fnesses: Jnvenfor:

2 dZJZ/a UNITED STATES PATENT @FFIGE.

FERDINAND SERVUS, OF BERLIN, GERMANY.

PICTURE-FRAME SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 380,671, dated April 3, 1888.

Application filed December 31, 1885. Serial No. 187,294. (No model.) Patented in Germany January 30,1885, No. 32,353, and October 21, 1885, Nos. 35,008 and 35,099; in Belgium December 4, 1885, No. 71,101; in England Decembcr31,1885, No.10,075, and in Austria-Hungary April 16, 1886, No. 44,136 and No. 7,109.

To aZZ whmn it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, FERDINAND SERvUs, of Berlin, in the Kingdom of Prussia and German Empire, have invented new and useful Improvements in Frame-Props, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, no patents being obtained by me anywhere for this invention, save in Germany, No.'32,353, dated January 30, 1885, and Nos. 35,098 and 35,099, October 21, 1885; in AustriaHungary, Nos. 44,136 and 7,109, April16, 1886; in Great Britain, No. 16,075, December 31, 1885, and in Belgium No. 71,101, December 4, 1885.

This invention relates to supports for picture-frames, which may be used also as suspending devices therefor.

It consists, chiefly, in the combination, with a frame, of a movable plate or bar, which" may be arranged in a downwardly and rearwardly inclined position, for bracing theframe when the latter stands on some supporting-table or similar base, or shifted at will, so that the upper end of said plate or bar will extend above said frame and be used as a suspending hook or eye therefor.

In the accompanying drawings, Figurel represents a rear elevation of a frame having my support attached and arranged for suspension. Fig. 2 represents a similar view of the same with the supporting-plate arranged as an inclined brace. Fig. 3 represents a side elevation of the devices as in Fig. 2. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 represent views of a modification respectively corresponding to the foregoing. Figs. 7, 8, and 9 represent similar views of an other modification. Figs. 10 and 11 repre sent, respectively, a side elevation and a rear elevation of another modification, the former showing the devices in position for support, the latter for suspension. Figs. 12 and 13 represent coresponding views of another modification. Figs. let and 15 represent correspond.- ing views of another modification.

In said drawings, 0 designates the pictureframe. In Figs. 1, 2, and 3 this is shown as provided on its back with guide-loops I) I), through which slides a plate-spring, a, that serves as a supporting-brace or suspending device as arranged. Stops c c on this supportingplate a limit its motion. When pulled to its highest position, the lower stop, 0, is in contact with the lower loop, I), and the upper end of the plate or spring a extends above said frame, a hole, a, in said upper end serving for attachment to a nail or equivalent device. By pulling the spring-plate a down through said loops until the upper stop, 0, is in contact with the upper loop, I), and then bending said spring-plate backward into the position shown in Fig. 3, said spring-plate a will hold said frame 0 in an upright or slightly-inclined position on a table or other base.

In the modification shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6 a pivoted bar, f, is substituted for springplate a, its connection being by a pivot, g, to frame 0. A spring, 9, operating after the manner of the spring of a knife-blade, holds said bar either in its upper position for suspension or in its lower position as a supporting-brace. Like spring-plate a, it is movable bodily from one position to the other; but this is effected byv turning on its pivot, instead of sliding lengthwise. It has in its free end a hole,f, like a.

In Figs. 7, 8, and 9 a spring-plate, h, is substituted for f, and turns in a plane parallel to frame 0, it having a longitudinal slot, k, which allows it pivotal motion on a stud, 7c, and also longitudinal motion past the same. A stud, m, on the pivoted end of said spring-plate engages with one or the other of two recesses, m, in a plate attached to said frame, according as the spring-plate h is in its upper or its lower position. In either case the effect is to prevent said spring-plate h from turning sidewise. A key-slot, h, in its upper end not only serves for suspension, but also engages a stud, c, on said frame. The slot h allows the spring-plate to be slipped out of engagement and turned into a different position.

Figs. 10 and 11 show a compound bar or frame, A, consisting of two side rods ending in knobs or balls D, which are connected by a crossbar, G, slightly bent in the middle to serve as a hook for hanging. A supplemental frame, E, attached to frame A serves as a brace for supporting the picture-frame, as

shown in Fig. 10. \Vhen turned into posi- The franieO, having guide-loopsbb, in comtion for suspending, the cross-bar 0 is above bination with the-spring-plate a, sliding in frame 0. said loops and having stops 0 c and hole a,

In Figs. 12 and 13 the supplemental frame F substantially as set forth. 5 is discarded. In Figs. 14 and 15 the cross-bar 'In witness whereof I have hereunto set my 1 5 O is pivoted instead of being rigid; otherwise hand in presence of two witnesses.

as in the two last preceding figures. FERDINAND SERVUS.

Having thus described my invention, what I Witnesses: claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters B. ROI,

IO Patent, is OTTO SERWITZ. 

